Here are the resources you need for this Sunday. Please feel free to choose what is suitable for your congregation’s needs.

Altar colour: Green

Bible readings

Note: There are two sets of first readings (with accompanying Psalms) given for the Sundays after Pentecost: (a) a new semi-continuous set, and (b) a set related thematically to the gospels (as in the earlier form of the lectionary). It is intended that either one of these two sets be used throughout and that they not be mixed.

Ready to Go Resources

Please note that the resources below have been prepared for congregations with limited administrative support and represent only one combination of the available service orders, readings, etc. This week’s service has been prepared using the Service without Communion. Every effort will be made to vary the liturgy each week.

Liturgy

Opening Sentences

The grace of God has now been revealed
through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus. (2 Tim 1:10a NRSV)

Prayer of the Day (Collect)

Choose one of the following:Traditional
O almighty and most merciful God,
in your bountiful goodness
keep us from all things that may hurt us,
that we may be ready both in body and soul
cheerfully to accomplish those things
that are according to your will;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.Amen.

OR, modernised traditional
Almighty and merciful God,
in your goodness defend us
from everything that might hurt us,
so that we may be ready in body and soul
to do cheerfully what is according to your will.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.Amen.

OR, alternative
(Let us pray that we may live by faith. [silence])
Almighty and merciful God,
you have ordered our earthly life
that we must walk by faith and not by sight.
Give us such trust in your fatherly care
that we show our faith
by our courage in the face of all perplexities.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.Amen.

OR, new
(Let us pray that we faithfully serve God. [silence])
Faithful God,
have mercy on us, your unworthy servants,
and make our faith stronger,
so that we serve you obediently
throughout our lives.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.Amen.

Additional Prayer Points

Visit the LCA International Mission website to access their prayer points, which you may like to include in the Prayer of the Church, or in your bulletin.

Resources for services with Holy Communion

Preface

It is indeed right and good,
Lord God, holy Father,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(On this day)*
he overcame death by his resurrection
and opened up for us
the way to eternal life with you.
And so, with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we adore and praise your glorious name:* The words ‘on this day’ are used only on Sundays.

Communion Invitation

Jesus says: ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be
hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ Come, for
everything is ready.OR
Jesus says: ‘My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those
who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me, and I in them.’
Come, for everything is ready.OR
This cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks is a communion in
the blood of Christ. This bread that we break is a communion in the body
of Christ. Come, for everything is ready.

Prayer after Communion

See the service order for a standard post-communion prayer. Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows:Almighty and merciful God,
thank you for showing your love for us
in this sacrament.
As we walk throughout this earthly life by faith,
give us such trust in your fatherly care
that we show our faith
by our courage in the face of all perplexities.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Dismissal

Go in peace. Be strong in faith.Thanks be to God.

OR In the name of Christ. Amen.

VISUAL ARTS

You can access excellent examples of church art relevant to each season of the Church year on theVisual Arts website. . The image used on the Traditional and General Use slides below was taken with permission from the Visual Arts site, and was created by Faye Lienert.

DRAMA

‘Mega Drama’
See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

dramatising the READINGS
The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. For instance, the reading from Habakkuk could be read by three readers: narrator, Habakkuk, and the Lord.

CHILDREN

In addition to the Children’s Address included in the Liturgy above, you can find excellent resources for children’s ministry at Grow Ministries, the Child, Youth and Family Ministry of the LCA.

‘COME AND SEE JESUS’

The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is currently available for the Revised Common Lectionary. This week’s story is ‘The fall of Jericho (Joshua 5:13 – 6:27)’. Material for this story may be found in Original Edition, Year B, Semester 2, 14 Pentecost OR Revised RCL Edition, Year C, Semester 2, Proper 22.

MUSIC AND SONG

This Week’s Top 5

There are many great songs and hymns to choose from each week. This list has been compiled by Mark Simpfendorfer from the Commission on Worship’s Music and Song team. Please make sure you check the copyright on any songs you use.

PSALM 137
TIS 85, By the Babylonian waters, is a version of Psalm 137:1-6.
Music Resources Vol. 3– Psalm settings: N/A

PSALM 37
The following metrical paraphrase of Psalm 37:1-9 by David Schütz may be sung to the tune All Saints (LH 165). If reproducing this version, please put ‘Words (c) David Schütz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Do not fret about the wicked;
envy not their unjust gain.
Soon they all will die and wither
like the grass upon the plain.
Long life in the land is yours,
when you trust in God the Lord.

Take delight in God, and he will
give you all that you desire.
Put your life into the Lord’s hands,
trust and he’ll do what’s required.
He will make your justice bright,
clear as noonday’s shining light.

So, be still and wait in patience;
in God’s presence take your stand.
Do not fret about the wicked,
those who make their evil plans.
Anger, rage and wrath forget,
evil comes to those who fret!

Though the wicked shall be cut off,
those who wait upon the Lord
will receive the land of promise
as their birthright and reward.
Soon the wicked will be gone,
though you look, they won’t be found.

OTHER HELPFUL WEBSITES FOR CHURCH MUSICWhile the LCA does not necessarily endorse the content of these websites, you may find them helpful in your worship planning.Small Church Music: You can download mp3 and midi files of popular hymn tunes from this site.Together to Celebrate:lectionary based song and hymn suggestions from a variety of sources.Singing from the Lectionary:has song and hymn suggestions based on the RCL from other hymnals.Song Select: you can search for more contemporary songs by theme. If your congregation has a paid subscription you can also download sheet music.Hymns Without Words:: mp3 downloads of hymn tunes.Song and Hymn Index. Contains all the indexes of the LHS and AT books in one Excel file. Download the file (zip file) here.Metrical Psalmsby Dale Schoening : Psalms set to well known hymn tunes.Keyboard Accompaniments for Together in Song – CDs are available for purchase through ACR. CD 1 & 2 ; CD 3 & 4.